"Is he really Qian Ran? Quite impressive. At such a young age, he's already..."
Zhongli Wu, who had rarely admired anyone in his life, found himself feeling a sliver of respect for Qian Ran.
Make no mistake, the stronger one's cultivation, the more of a mess they usually were in matters of love.
Long Xiaoyao, Mu En, Ye Xishui, and Zhongli Old Ghost—all of them Ultimate Douluos—shared this trait.
The reasoning was simple: when your mind is entirely focused on cultivation, emotions naturally take a backseat. Excelling at both cultivation and a lively romantic life without some form of "cheat" is nearly impossible.
Thus, Zhongli Wu envied Qian Ran—not for his ability to have multiple wives, but for his capability to handle relationships with women so adeptly.
Even as the leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, Zhongli Wu wouldn't dare claim he'd conquered Feng Ling's heart entirely.
The Holy Spirit Cult valued profit above all, but that didn't mean there was no emotion whatsoever. After all, every man desires full control over their partner. The stronger the man, the stronger this desire to dominate becomes.
"You're envious, aren't you?" Feng Ling's beautiful eyes darted toward Zhongli Wu, her tone displeased.
Zhongli Wu instantly clammed up.
"Qian Ran is indeed a fine young man, but what matters more to me are the resources he possesses. It's thanks to those resources that Mother was able to break through to the Demigod realm."
"Feng Ling, it's all up to you next," Zhongli Wu said, looking at her.
Given their talent, they were bound to reach the Ultimate Douluo level eventually. When that time came, the only way to progress further would be through Qian Ran's resources.
In the past 10,000 years, Ye Xishui had been the only one to break through to the Demigod level.
Now, a correct and mature path was laid before them, and they couldn't afford to miss it.
Beyond the Demigod realm was the once-unattainable realm of the gods.
It seemed that with Qian Ran's arrival, this distant goal was now within reach.
"I understand," Feng Ling replied, her expression serious. Unlike the greedy Zhongli Wu, she had simpler desires. What she wanted most was to restore her fading beauty.
Like Ye Xishui, Feng Ling's looks were beginning to show signs of decline.
No woman would pass up the opportunity for eternal youth.
As for becoming a god? Feng Ling wasn't too concerned. Her talent was slightly inferior to Zhongli Wu's, and she was still far from the Ultimate Douluo level.
"Great Elder, the Deputy Sect Master requests your presence."
As Qian Ran and Xue Lingsun stepped out, someone approached respectfully and informed Qian Ran.
"Deputy Sect Master?" Xue Lingsun's heart skipped a beat.
She was already startled when Qian Ran had produced the Holy Spirit Cult's Elder Token earlier.
Now, even the Deputy Sect Master of the Holy Spirit Cult had shown up.
Hiss.
The Deputy Sect Master of the Holy Spirit Cult—such a figure must at least be at the Super Douluo level.
Why did Qian Ran, at such a young age, hold such a high position in the Holy Spirit Cult?
Xue Lingsun felt as though all the prodigies she had ever known paled in comparison to Qian Ran. If only she had been born later...
A wave of bittersweet emotion swept through her.
If she had been ten years younger, and met Qian Ran at the height of her youth and charm, wouldn't things have been different?
Although Qian Ran clearly adored her now, his affection felt more like fascination.
But alas, there were no "what ifs" in this world.
She and Qian Ran were destined to never be.
"Stop overthinking," Qian Ran said, taking Xue Lingsun's delicate hand.
"Take me there," Qian Ran instructed the person before him.
The Deputy Sect Master of the Holy Spirit Cult—Feng Ling.
Qian Ran recalled the name. The Deputy Sect Master of the Holy Spirit Cult was none other than her. Additionally, Feng Ling was also the leader of the Xishui Alliance, one of the three major underground forces in Ming City.
Feng Ling seeking him out was within his expectations.
...
Qian Ran and Xue Lingsun arrived at a secluded pavilion.
"Do you want to come upstairs with me?" Qian Ran asked the beauty beside him.
"I'd better not. I'll wait outside," Xue Lingsun said, shaking her head. Her light-attribute affinity made the surrounding dark and sinister aura rather uncomfortable for her.
However, she was surprised that Qian Ran had even considered inviting her along. To meet the Deputy Sect Master of the Holy Spirit Cult, no less. Could Qian Ran truly be thinking of...
Xue Lingsun wasn't sure whether to feel delighted or conflicted.
If Qian Ran treated her poorly, she might have been able to harden her resolve. But with him being this considerate, could she really stay true to herself?
"Wait here, then," Qian Ran said, playfully brushing the tip of her nose with his finger.
"Alright," she murmured, lowering her head to avoid his gaze.
...
When Qian Ran stepped upstairs, he found a stunning woman in a cheongsam waiting for him.
Judging by her aura, this had to be Feng Ling.
What surprised Qian Ran was that Feng Ling wore an alabaster cheongsam, tightly wrapping her voluptuous, curvaceous figure. Her fair, slender legs and graceful arms were generously exposed.
The subtle, toned muscle lines of her body were both elegant and captivating.
The cheongsam's pale white fabric complemented her creamy skin, but the dark red markings at the corners of her eyes added a hint of seductive allure. Yet, this striking feature seemed at odds with her outfit's refined aesthetic.
It was clear that Feng Ling wasn't naturally suited to the graceful style of a cheongsam.
However, Qian Ran suspected she had chosen the garment deliberately.
Women often dress with intentionality, sometimes creating subtle contrasts to draw attention. That slight sense of discord only served to make her more eye-catching.
A true expert.
How could she not be? Besides fighting, Feng Ling handled most of the Holy Spirit Cult's day-to-day affairs—far more than Zhongli Wu.
In some ways, Feng Ling outshone him.
Ding! The host has successfully checked in with Xishui Alliance Leader Feng Ling.
Ding! The host has acquired the artifact: the Hourglass of Flowing Time. This artifact can alter time's flow. When placed in the host's micro-world, it accelerates time within without affecting the user's lifespan.
Hearing the voice in his mind, Qian Ran was stunned.
Good heavens.
This was possible?
A treasure capable of manipulating time's flow? Although it could only be used in his micro-worlds, like the Sumeru Ring or his undead demiplane, it was still astonishing.
Of course, affecting Douluo Continent's time flow was unthinkable.
Even so, Qian Ran was thrilled. If he placed the Hourglass of Flowing Time into his Sumeru Ring, wouldn't he and those around him gain a vast amount of extra cultivation time?
What had been a major headache for him—how to speed up the cultivation of those close to him—was no longer an issue.
"Qian Ran, are you alright?" Feng Ling's voice interrupted his thoughts. She had called him several times while he was engrossed in understanding the artifact's functions, almost forgetting about her entirely.
Now, as Qian Ran looked at Feng Ling, he found her even more stunning.
This woman exuded prosperity.
(End of chapter)